Throttle-valve apparatus



J. S. CHAMBERS.

THROTTLE VALVE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24. 1918.

Patented June 17, I919.

3 SHEETSSHEET l YIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIII'IIIIIIA INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Y.

J. S. CHAMBERS THROTTLE VALVE APPARATUS- APPLICATION man M024. 1918,

Patented June 17, 1919.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 1'\" V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

J. S. CHAMBERS.

THROTTLE VALVE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue,24,191s.

1,307, 1 1,4e Patented June 17, I919. 3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

WITNESS: 75 9.3 Z INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

JOHN S. CHAMBERS, DF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

THROTTLE-verve arrnnnrns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented June 17, 1919.

Application filed August 24, 1918. Serial No. 251,350.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. CHAMBERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Throttle-Valve Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates generally to means for admitting steam from a steamboiler to the cylinders of an engine and the control of the flow of the steam, more especially in locomotives, the invention having reference more particularly to the requisite throttle valve, its mounting, and means for operating and controlling the throttle valve.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable throttle valve apparatus Which shall be so constructed as to not be liable to cause trouble because of wear and lost-motion, and which shall be compact and strong and also easily operated.

Another object is to provide a-simple and compact balanced throttle valve which shall be so constructed as to be easily operated, positive in operation and free from balancing piston and preliminary admission valve, and without requiring the use of a removable valve seat or a balancing ring.

A further object is to provide a balanced throttle valve which shall be so constructed as to be capable of affording the maximum passage for steam with the minimumtravel of valve, to reduce the amount of wear caused by operation to the minimum, more particularly for the purpose of enabling the throttle valve to be arranged relatively close to the top a steam dome when the dome is of the short type required on excessively high locomotive boilers.

A still further object is to provide means for positively locking or securely holding the throttle valve in closed or other position as a measure of safety, and to permit the valve to be operated With ease when the steam pressure carried in the boiler is high.

Still another object of no less importance is to provide an improved throttle valve appliance whereby to'safely and reliably operand control the throttle valve ivy-hand with the n'iiniinum exertion of energy, and Which shall be so constructed as to be adapted to be adjusted to take up lost motion due to wear in use.

With the abovementioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a dual throttle valve of novel construction, novel supporting and controlling apparatus for the valve, and an improved throttle lever appliance whereby to primarily operate and control the throttle valve; and, the invention consists also further in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

. Referring to the draWings,-Figure 1 is fragmentary side elevation of a locomotive boiler partially broken away and provided with the improved throttle valve apparatus; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan of Fig. 1 minus the cap of the steam dome of the boiler; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation, approximately central, of the improved throttle valve, the throttle box for the valve and the devices for mounting and controlling the valve; Fig.

t is a fragmentary horizontal section of the throttle box which has novel features therein, taken approximately midway between its bottom and its top; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional elevation of the throttle box taken partially centrally thereof and partially through the middle of the seat of one of the parts of the dual valve; Fig. 6 is a plan ofa novel floating lever for synchronously controlling the two valves or parts of the dual valve; Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the devices for locking the improved. valve in closed position; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the improved floating lever Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the elements designed for facilitating the operation of the improved valve and controlling the locking appliance thereof; Fig. 10 is an elevation of the improved throttle lever appliance; Fig. 11 is an elevation of a different side of the throttle lever appliance; Fig. is a sectional elevation of one of the devices of the throttle lever appliance; Fig. 13 is a bottom plan of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, approximately centrally of the throttle lever lipthe 'barrel of the locomotive boiler and 2 the rear portion of the boiler partially covered by the cab 3, 4 indicating the steam dome having a removable cap 5, and 6 indicating the steam pipe, commonly termed the dry pipe, for conducting the steam from the dome to the engine cylinders.

The improved throttle box comprises a side wall 7 which in horizontal cross section is approximately oval and it has a suitable base 8 for connection with the steam pipe 6, the throttle box having a top 9 in which is an aperture 10 having a valve seat 11 facing outwardly. The top 9 has also another aperture 12 which preferably is slightly less in diameter than the aperture 10 and has a valve seat 13 facing inwardly. The dual valve comprises two parts or valves 14 and 15, the valve 14 being arranged in the aperture 10 and having a valve face 16 normally seated on the seat 11, this valve being adapted to open upward or outwardly. The valve 15 is arranged in the smaller aperture 12 and has a valve face 17 that is normally seated on the valve seat 13, this valve opening downward or inwardly. The valve 14 is slightly greater in diameter than the valve 15 and also is constructed so as to be considerably heavier than the other valve. A stud 18 is rigidly secured in the valve 14 and has a neck 19 provided with a collar 20 for operation and control of the valve. A yoke 21 is provided which has a suitable head portion 22 receiving the neck of the stud, and a re ess23 receiving the collar, the head portion permitting the neck to rotate therein so that the valve may rotate when unseated and be permitted to change its position so as to tend to regrind the bearing faces and prevent leakage of steam. The yoke is provided with a suitable pivot 24 for operation and control of the valve. The valve 15 also has a stud 25 rigidly connected thereto which also has a neck 26 and a collar 27. A combined yoke and locking prop 28 is provided which has a head portion 29 adapted to receive the neck 26 and permit the neck to rotate therein, the head portion having a recess 30 which receives the collar 27, so that the prop is adapted to force the valve 15 upward to its seat or alternatively to withdraw the valve downward from its seat. The prop has also an aperture 31 in which is a horizontal pivot 32; and, below the aperture 31 the prop has another aperture 33 at the top of which is a bearing face 34 which preferably is inclined. The lower end of the prop has a guide projection 35 thereon.

In order to provide adjustability to compensate for wear a portion of the wall 7 of the throttle box has an abutment ledge 36 on its inside-in proximity to the base portion 8 of the box, and an adjusting block 37 is slidingly arranged upon the ledge. The top of the block 37 preferably is inclined so as to constitute a wedge which is provided with an adjusting screw 38 extending through the wall 7 and provided with a lock nut 39. The ledge has a guide projection 40 thereon that extends under the prop 28 and has a guideway 41 thereon receiving the guide portion 35 of the prop.

The arrangement of the valves or parts 14 and 15 which constitute the dual valve apparatus is such that one valve is forward and the other rearward of the middle of the top 9. Below the middle of the top a bushing 42 is inserted in one portion of the wall 7 of the throttle box and a bearing plug 43 is inserted in the opposite portion of the wall and rotatively support an operating-shaft 44 to operate and control the valves 14 and 15, the shaft extending through space in the dome and also through the side of the dome, an operating arm 45 being secured to the outer end of the operating-shaft. The shaft 44 has a casing 46 thereon that is connected with the bearing bushing 42 and also with the side wall of the dome to prevent steam from passing from the interior of the dome either to the outside of the dome or to the inside of the throttle box 47, a suitable packing box being provided at the outer end of the casing to prevent steam from escaping from the throttle box to the atmosphere. The construction and arrangement of the throttle box and the operating-shaft are such as to permit advantages resulting from arrang ing the operating-shaft centrally of the throttle box and the dome.

A floating lever 48 is provided which has a central bearing aperture 49 therein that loosely receives a portion of the operating shaft 44 so as to permit relative rotary motion. One side of the lever has a hub projection 50 thereon which has guiding connection with the bearing plug 43, the opposite side of the lever having a hub extension 51 thereon. One end portion of the lever is connected with the yoke 21, being provided with an aperture 52 to receive the pivot 24, the opposite portion of the lever having a longitudinal slot 53 that receives the pivot 32 whereby the lever is connected with the prop 28. The lever 48 is provided with suitable lug devices 54 and 55 on opposite sides respectively of the middle of the lever, the devices preferably being rigidly secured in place. A. hub 56 is suitably keyed or secured to the shaft 44 adjacent to the floating lever 48 and has a recess 57 on one side thereof that receives the hub extension 51- of the lever, so that the floating lever is guided by the hub and also by the bearing plug 43 in case the intermediate portion of the shaft 44 becomes fractured. The hub 56 has oppositely arranged arms 58 and 5-9 thereon that have short transversely arranged slots 60 and 61 respectively which receive the lugs 54 and 55 respectively to permit slight movement of the shaft 44 and the hub 56 without causing movement of the floating lever 48. The hub 56 has an arm 62 thereon which is provided with a pivot 63 to which a key block 64 is connected that extends through the aperture 33 in the prop 28 and to the top of the adjusting block 37, the key block preferably having an inclined bearing face 65 in contact with the top of the block 37, the arrangement being such that the key block shall descend relatively to the adjusting block when drawn back relatively to the prop. The top of the key block has an inclined bearing face 66 to engage the bearing face 34 to force the prop upward, and has also a relatively higher cam like portion 67 to finally force up the prop so as to close the valve 15 and positively secure the valve in closed position. The portion 66 recedes from the portion 67, so that when the key block 64 is retract-ed the prop is permitted to descend sufficiently for opening the valve 15. This construction permits the withdrawal of the key block 64 slightly in advance of the movement of the floating lever 48, so as to permit the steam pressure in the dome to force open the valve 15 and permit the steam in the throttle box to balance the external pressure on the valve 14, so that the latter can be subsequently opened with slight effort. It will be observed also that the travel of each valve need be only approximately one-half of the travel of a single valve to accomplish the required operations.

In order to obtain the advantages of relatively short movement and easy operation of the throttle valve lever in the cab of the locomotive, an improved lever construction is provided and comprising a housing 68 which may be variously arranged, pref-.

erably in vertical, positiqn as illustrated and is suitably provided with securing de vices such as base ears 69 and 70 on the lower portion thereof that are bolted to a bracket 71 secured to the boiler portion 2. The housing has an off-set box portion 72 on one side thereof which has an opening in its top and preferably is made separately and provided with a base plate 73 suitably secured to the housing or main portion thereof. Suitable securing devices for the box portion comprise ears 74; 75 rigid on the box portion and having studs 76 and 77 secured therein respectively, the studs extending through cars 78 and 79 cast i11- tegrally on the housing and engaged by nuts 80 and 81 placed on the studs. The

box portion 72 has a horizontal pivot bolt 82 therein. Preferably the housing is square internally in cross section and it longitudinally guides a combined nut and rack member 83 which has gear or rack teeth 84 on one side thereof toward the box portion 72. A lever arm 85 is arranged on the pivot bolt 82 and has a relatively short arm 86 thereon provided with a gear segment 87 engaging the rack teeth 84, so that the arm 85 is moved when the member 83 is moved longitudinally. The member 83 is hollow and has two screw threads 88 and 89 therein slightly separated at the middle of the member where lubricating grease may be retained. The housing 68 has a head 90 re movably inserted in its lower end and a similar head 91 removably inserted in its upper end, the heads being adapted to constitute journal bearings in which a shaft 92 is journaled, the shaft extendingthrough the heads and constituting a pivot for the throttle valve lever. Within the housing the shaft is provided with a spline 93, and worms 94 and 95 are arranged on the shaft 92, one worm being in engagement with the screw thread 89 and the other with the screw thread 88. The worm 94 is normally v in contact with the head 90 and the worm 95 in contact with the head 91, both worms being caused by the spline to be rotated by the shaft but permitted to move slightly along the shaft, so that adjustment may be made to compensate for wear by setting the heads farther into the housing. A nut 96 is placed on the shaft 92 in contact with the head 91 to retain the head in place. A throttle valve lever 97 is suitably keyed to the shaft 92 in contact with the head 90 and secured in place by a nut 98 placed on the shaft in contact with the adjacent portion of the lever. A latch quadrant 99 for the lever is provided and preferably is supported on the housing so as to be located adjacent to the lever, the latter being provided with a suitable latch 100 to engage the quadrant. The latch may be variously mounted and operated, as will be understood. A suitable reach-rod 101 is connected by means of a pivot bolt 102 with the arm 85 and by means of a pivot bolt 103 to the arm 45. On movement of the throttle valve lever the pivotal shaft 92 thereof turns the Worms 94 and 95 which cause movement of the member 83, which in turn causes movement of the arm 85- and consequently a corresponding movement of the reach rod and the arm 45 which transmits its motion to the operating shaft 44, to control the valves '14 and 15; The construction of the throttle lever appliance is such that it is self-locking toprevent accidental movement of the throttle valve when at rest, ,the worms 9 1 and 95 preventing movement of the member 88 and the arm 85 when the shaft 92 is at rest, even though the throttle valve lever 97 is not latched.

In practical use the throttle valve, or more specifically the two valves 1 1 and 15 are operated and controlled by the throttle valve controller which for convenience has been described as a throttle valve lever 97 which, when moved forward causes the valve 14: to be moved downward to its seat and the valve 15 to be moved upward to its seat; but when the valve 1a is brought to its seat it is so held by the steam pressure upon it while the steam pressure in the dome ex erted upon the valve 15 may prevent the latter from immediately becoming seated tightly, which is overcome by the prop 28 being forced upward by the key block Get which securely holds the prop in looking position so that the valve can not become unseated while the prop is at rest. WVhen it is desired to admit steam into the throttle box the lever 97 is drawn backward so as to cause movement of the arm 85 which turns the operating-shaft 1 1 to first cause retractive movement of the locking key 6% to permit the prop 28 to freely descend, following which the lever 4:8 is brought into action and permits the steam pressure in the dome to slightly force open the valve 15 which assists the lever as to open the valve 11 with ease. Usually a slight amount of lost motion is present in the operating connections which in practice is difficult to entirely eliminate while in service, so that the valve 15 can be slightly unseated to admit steam before the valve lt is unseated, the steam in the throttle box assisting to unseat the valve 14. When the valves are open they are balanced or approximately so and easily controlled to regulate the flow of thesteam into the throttle boX. In case there be excessive lost motion preventing the lever 4&8 from closing the valve 15 when the valve 14 is seated, it is apparent that the valve 15 must be forced to its seat by action of the prop 28 and the key block 6 1 and securely locked in closed position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A throttle valve apparatus including a balance-valve provided with operating means, and a lock to secure the balancevalve in closed position and controlled automatically by the operating means.

2. A throttle valve apparatus including a balance-valve provided with locking means to secure the balance-valve to its seat, and

-means for operating the balance-valve having automatic control of the locking means. .3. A throttle valve apparatus including: a

throttle-valve, operating means for the throttle valve, and a tln'ottle-controller having connection with the operating means and adapted to automatically secure the operating means against operation when at rest.

1. A throttle valve apparatus including a movable throttle valve, an adjustable lock ing prop adapted to rigidly hold the valve to its seat, and ope ating means for the throttle valve provided with means coopcratin with the locking prop for automatic control of the prop.

5. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle valve, operating means connected with the throttle valve, and a throttle lever appliance comprising a worm gear mechanism connected with the operating means and adapted to operate or to lock the operating means in position. i

V 6. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle valve, operating means for the throttle valve, a lock for thevalve controlled by the operating means, a locking mechanism for the operatingmeans adapted to be operated to operate the operating means, and a device for operating the locking mechanism.

7. A throttle valve apparatus including a balance-valve, operating means for the balaneevalve, a throttle valve lever appliance connected with'the operating means and hav ing means adapted to be seltlocking to hold the operating means for preventing movement of the balance-valve, and a lever con nected to the lever appliance to operate the appliance.

8. A throttle valve apparatus includin a throttle box, and a dual balance-valve comprising two parts connected together for synchronous operation in cooperation with the top of the throttle box, the dual balancevalve having operating means provided with a locking prop to directly hold the balancevalve rigidly in closed position.

9. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle'box provided with a dual balancevalve, movable locking means in the box adapted to securely hold the balance-valve in closed position, operating means connected with the balance-valve for its control and having controlling connection with the look ing means, and means connected with the operating means adapted to operate or to lock the operating means in position.

10. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle valve provided with a movable lock to hold the valve rigidly to its seat, operating means for the throttle valve having means to control the lock, and a prime controller provided with locking mechanism connecting the controller with the operating I means, the locking means being adapted to be operated by the controller and to lock the operating means against operation when the controller is at rest; I

. 11 A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle box having an abutment therein and a valve seat above the abutment, a valve in the throttle box tooperate on the seat and provided with a locking appliance to cooperate with the abutment forforcibly closing the valve and securely holding it rigidly to the valve seat, and operating means having connection with the throttle valve to control it and provided with means adapting the operating means to control the locking appliance.

12. A throttle valv'e apparatus including a throttle box having an-external valve seat and an internal valve seat at the top of the box, one seat being forward and the other seat rearward of the vertical axis of the box, an operating shaft mounted in the throttle box and intersecting the vertical axis of the box, a lever mounted between its ends on the shaft, a valve connected with one end portion of the lever to operate on the external valve seat, and a valve connected with the opposite end portion of the lever to operate on the internal valve seat.

13. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle valve, operating means connected with the throttle valve, a fixedly supported housing having a screw-threaded rack-nut movable therein, a throttle valve lever hav ing a pivotal shaft rotatively mounted in the housing and extending through the racknut, a worm on the shaft to be turned thereby and engagingthe rack-nut to operate it, and a lever arm pivotally mounted in the housing and having a gear segment thereon in, connection with the rack-nut to be operated thereby, the lever arm having connection with the operating means of the throttle valve.

14. A throttle valve apparatus including a throttle box having an external valve-and an internal valve and seats therefor, the box having also an abutment therein below the internal valve, a yoke connected with the external valve, a locking prop connected with the internal valve, a shaft rotatively mounted in the throttle box and having a hub secured thereto provided with arms, a key block connected with one of the arms and cooperating with the abutment and the prop to wedge the prop under the internal valve, and a lever mounted on the shaft and connected with the yoke and the prop, the lever having operative connection with another arm of the hub.

15. In a throttle valve apparatus, a pair of valves connected operatively together to be moved in opposite directions, one of the valves having a locking device connected therewith to hold the pair of valves in closed position, and means for operating and controlling the valves provided with means cooperating with the locking device to control its operation.

16. In a throttle valve apparatus, a throttle box having an abutment on its inner side, a

valve arranged to operate on the inside of said box, a locking prop connected with the valve and having a bearing portion facing downward, a shaft rotatable in said box, an arm secured to said shaft, and a key block connected to said arm and having support on said abutment, the key block having an inclined top engaging the bearing portion of the prop.

17. In a throttle valve apparatus, a throttle box provided on its inside with a valve seat and also an abutment below said seat, the abutment having a guide device thereon, a locking prop vertically arranged and vertically guidedby the guide device, a valve arranged inside the throttle box and connected with said prop to be moved thereby to said seat, a key block cooperating with the a'butment and the locking prop to move the prop upward, and means connected with the key block for operation and control thereof.

18. In a throttle valve apparatus, a throttle box having therein an abutment facing upward, an adjusting block horizontally adjustable upon the abutment, an adjusting screw mounted in the wall of the throttle box and connected with the adjusting block, a lever arm supported to swing in the throttle box, a key block connected to said arm and having support on said adjusting block and having an inclined bearing portion, a lock- 1ng prop having support on said bearing portion, a valve in said box connected with said prop, and means to control said arm.

19. In a throttle valve apparatus, a throttle box having bearings 011 the vertical axis of the box and also an external valve seat and an internal valve seat on opposite sides respectively of said axis, in combination with an operating shaft in said box supported by said bearings, a lever supported between its ends on the shaft, an external valve connected with one end portion of said lever and arranged outside said box to operate on said external valve seat, and an internal valve connected with the opposite end portion of said lever and arranged on the inside of said box to operate on said internal valve seat.

20. In a throttle valve apparatus, a valve and its seat, a locking prop connected to the valve to force it to its seat, a rotatively supported operating shaft, a lever-arm loosely supported on the shaft and connected with said prop, said arm having a lug thereon, a hub secured to said shaft and having an arm thereon provided with an engaging portion to engage said lug and permit slight movement away from the lug, said hub having a second arm thereon, a controlling device connected with said second arm and adapted to control said prop, means enabling the controlling device to control said prop, and means to operate said shaft.

21. In a throttle valve apparatus, a housing having removable heads, a shaft journaled in the heads, a throttle valvecontroller secured to the shaft at the outside of one of th heads, a quadrant supported on the housing, a latch mounted on said controller to en- 5 gage the quadrant, a rack-nut movably guided in the housing and surrounding said shaft, the rack-nut having internal screw threads and external rack-teeth, a pair of worms splined on said shaft in engagement 10 with said screw threads, and a lever arm pivo-tally supported by said housing and having a gear segment thereon in engagement With said rack-teeth.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN S. CHAMBERS.

WVitnesses:

E. T. SILvIUs, F. M. Ronnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. G. 

